On Thursday, July 8 at 6 p.m. MVOC, along with neighborhood, faith-based and other community leaders, will hold a Warren Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative Kick-Off. The event, to be held at Grace A.M.E Church, 1137 Main Street, Warren, will serve as an opportunity to educate and engage residents on key issues affecting public health equity issues within the City of Warren.
After the successful passage of health care reform, it became evident that health coverage is not enough to combat chronic diseases found in many disadvantaged areas of our cities. Community leaders, such as Corinne Williams of Warren, said it is time for local communities to look into preventative measures such as increasing access to healthier products within city limits.
“The hope of health coverage is not enough,” said Williams. “More thought has to go into the reasons why it’s easier to buy drugs than an orange in certain parts of the city. That can't be just bad luck.”
Health equity has become a focus as a result of growing concern in our neighborhoods and MVOC has partnered with various organizations in the city to address the issues relating to it. Among the integral partners in this effort is Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership (TNP). Among the topics that will be discussed, such as the need for clean, presentable stores that provide healthy options at reasonable price points and the social determinants that affect the health in disadvantaged neighborhoods, TNP’s mission and program goals for 2010.
